Vehicle spring



Aug. 11, 1.925.

P. cHoKAs VEHICLE SPRING Original Filed March 8,- 1924 ww.. wm. GlwFTl ihm# Futuna Patented Aug. l1, 1925.

UNITD STATES isiaii VEHICLE SPRING.

Application led March 8, 1924.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP Cif-reims, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bluefield, in the county of Mercer and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Springs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to vehicle springs.

An important object of the- .invention is to provide a spring structure including in combination with the bowed or so called semi-elliptical spring what may be termed a chordal spring distending the bowed spring and acting to assist the spring in its resistance to shocks in the one direction and to act against the spring' in its reflex action in recovering from such shocks so that eX- cessive rip-throw of the frame of the vehicle during such reflex action is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can be very readily embodied in the present form of spring structure and which will not interferewith the application of the spring to the vehicle in any manner whatsoever.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spring constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same applied to a vehicle frame;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the springu Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be noted that in the structure of the spring there are two separate distinct sections, the first a main spring 10 identical in general characteristics with the semi-elliptical springs now commonly employed, and the second a spring 11 having relatively straight aligned end portions 12 and a central offset portion 13 connected with the end portions by vertical portions 14, this offset portion being clipped or other* wise secured to the central portion of the main spring 10 as indicated at 15.

It will be noted that the end portions 12 of the auxiliary or chordal spring 11 are composed of three sections one of which, indicated at 16, is connected with the main leaf 17 of the main spring 10 at the shackle Serial No. 697,847.

bolt receiving eye thereof indicated at 18. In the present disclosure the leaf 16 is shown as a continuation of the main leaf 17 and this structure is preferred for reasons which will presently become obvious. The two remaining leaves of the end portions -12 are of dierent lengths, the shortest leaf being arranged uppermost and to these leaves clips 19 are secured which slidably receive the leaf 16. These leaves when in their normal positions have their inner or adjacent end portions 20 slightly spaced from the adjacent face of the associated vertical portions lt. The vertical portions 14 are formed by bending the last named leaves of the end portions 12 and the offset portion le@ connecting these vertical portions is likewise produced by bending these leaves. It will be noted that such remaining leaves of the end portions 12 of the bight portion 14a and vertical section 14 are integral and that in the vertical portions rivets 21 are inserted so that relative movement of such leaves is prevented.

In the operation of the device assuming the main spring 10 to approach a straight line, as it will under a sudden shock due to the pressure of the frame F being suddenly placed thereon and being resisted by the axle A, then the downward movement of the ends of the spring will cause to be carried with these ends the leaves 16 flexing these leaves and adding their resistance to the resistance 0f the spring 10. It is, of course, well-known that during such flexing of the main spring 10 its effective longitudinal length is increased and to compensate for such increase in length the leaves 16 slide in the clips 19 preventing any stress being laid upon the portions 14 so that these portions are not made to give to permit downward movement of the main spring. On a reflex action after the spring has passed the point at which it is illustrated in the drawings the ends of the main spring will tend to move toward one another and to raise above the plane in which they are disclosed carrying with them the frame F and giving to this frame a throw which causes eXtreme discomfort to the occupants of the vehicle. During this upward movement, however, the spring 16 by the tendency of the ends of the main spring tov move toward one another are brought into engagement with the upper ends of the vertical portions 14 with the resuit that these leaves are rigidiiied to these verticalportions, and further movement of thc leavesl longitudinally is resisted by these vertical portions, it being necessary that the upper ends of these portions approach one another to permit further longitudinal movement resulting in a considerable check to the upward movement of the spring 10. Furthermore, this upward movement beyond a horizontal line brings into play the iiexible end portions of the remaining leaves of the end portions 12 and they likewise resist such upward move# ment. Thus it will be seen that a spring constructed' in accordance with my invention resists to a certain degree the downward movement oi" the spring and in its upward movement even more 'forcibly resists the reflex action from such downward movef ment. It will be obvious that the structure disclosed is capable of a certain range of change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention andI accordingly doV not limit myself to such speciiic structure except as hereinafter claimed. Y

l. A spring comprising a mainV and an auxiliary section, the main rsection being bowed, the auxiliary section having straight portions connected atv their outer ends to the ends of the main section and extending chordally ot the main section, and the central portion'of the auxiliary spring' being oiiset and clipped to the central portion of the main section, such end portions each embodying a leatslidable upon the remaining leaves thereof and connected with the ends ol the main spring at the shackle receiving eye thereof.

2. A spring comprising a main and an auxiliary section, the main section being bowed, the auxiliary section having straight. `portions connected at their outer ends to the ends of the main section and extend ing chordally 0i the main section, and the central portion of the auxiliary spring being offset and clipped vto the central portion of themain section, suchend portions cach embodying a leaf slidable upon the remain` ing leaves thereof and connected with. the ends of the Imain spring at the shackle receiving eye thereof, the main leaf of such auxiliary section being bent to provide such offset portion and vertical portions connecting the oti'set portion to such end portions, theends of said leaves being in slightly spaced relation to such vertical portions when the main spring is invits normal position. y

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature. p y

Y PHILIP CHOKAS. 

